562 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN". 



GENERAL NOTES. 



ROOT-KNOT. 



We are getting specimens of root-knot from many vegetables, shrubs 

 and trees. As is well known this is a nematoid affection, being pro- 

 duced by the nematoid worm, Heterodera radicicola. It attacks very 

 juany weeds as well as our cultivated plants. It attacks potatoes in 

 several counties of the State. In receiving nursery stock or ornamental 

 plants from outside the State or in intercounty shipments, we should 

 refuse any specimens that show this disease. Rotation of crops has 

 special significance in view of this affection. We are studying to know 

 what plants are immune, if such there be, to know what to plant in 

 infected soil. In the case of this malady, as with the bacterial affec- 

 tion, known as crown gall, trees or shrubs badly diseased may well be 

 uprooted and destroyed. I doubt if any plant ailment in our State is 

 more common than this root-knot. — A. J. Cook. 



LIME-SULPHUR. 



There are two reasons why we regard this solution with exceptional 

 interest. I believe it originated in California, and it is a very excellent 

 specific against many pests — insect and fungoid. We may often use 

 it at a time when it will work the destruction of two or more serious 

 enemies to our fruit trees and shrubs. The terrible pernicious scale, 

 Aspidiotus perniciosus, yields to this solution, as to no other known 

 remedy. In this case it is used as a winter spray and does no harm 

 to the defoliated trees. Sulphur alone is often a sure preventive 

 of the work of the mites usually called spiders, as the red spider. 

 Many fungi yield to the. lime-sulphur solution, as curl leaf in the peach 

 and the various mildews. Thus lime-sulphur solution is both a fungi- 

 cide and an insecticide. It is comparable to Bordeaux, and these two 

 are the sovereign remedies for fungoid diseases. 



One of the most common and most destructive pests known to the 

 gardener and fruit grower is the mite, or "spider," of which there are 

 several species, as the pear blister mite which deforms and injures pear 

 foliage and blisters the pear itself. This and the related silver mite are 

 very minute. It is more than probable that a close study would deter- 

 mine that both of these affections could be controlled by the use of the 

 lime-sulphur solution. In all cases of blights, a trial should be made 

 first of lime-sulphur, as the cheaper, and then of the Bordeaux. 



Sulphur alone dusted on the foliage is often a very satisfactory 

 specific against mildews and mites. Here the heat of the sun produces 

 fumes from the powdered sulphur. In cool or cloudy weather these 

 fumes are often not enough in evidence to produce results, in which 

 case the lime-sulphur solution may be very effective. — A. J. Cook. 



